Is climate change altering the seasonal patterns of marine species? With the monsoon extending unusually long this year, Mumbai’s coastline has become a site of unexpected marine activity. Nature enthusiasts have reported rare November sightings of Blue Buttons (Porpita porpita) — small, striking blue marine organisms that typically appear before the monsoon season. Experts believe their late arrival could be linked to changing climatic conditions.

Commonly known as Blue Buttons, Porpita porpita are tiny marine animals found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Along Mumbai’s shores, they are usually seen just before the onset of the monsoon, and traditional fishing communities have long regarded them as natural indicators of approaching rains.